I sat on the bed next to Steph and caressed her leg. “We are going to gather in a few minutes, honey. Me, Stu and Ed are going down to 9.”

“Nine!? Jesus that is low.” Concern covered her face.

“Nine is next, what else can we do? We need food. I have to go, The Council is counting on us!” A unwinnable fight began.

“Don, what if those things have-”

I cut her off. “What do you want me to do? Sit here, do nothing to feed my family? Give up – like you!?” Damn, shouldn’t have said that. “Sorry, sorry, so sorry honey. I did not mean that.” I leaned over and hugged her.

“No, it’s…it’s true,” she sniffled, “Don, I just can’t sit here and wait to starve. Not without Sarah, I am lost. Look at your son out there, his mind is lost already.” She pushed me off and sat up. “And you, with your equipment and little team. Go out there, find some more stale food for us to subsist on. It is a torturous, slow death!”

She was right. One hundred percent.

“I still have to go. It will be alright.”